4 Creative Ways to Announce Your New Engagement
Make it pop.
Are you one of the 40 percent of people that get engaged between Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day? The holiday months are some of the most popular when it comes to love.
It makes sense after all. Family and fun, eggnog. Mistletoe… the New Year’s Eve capital K Kiss. There’s a lot of smoochin’ going on lately. And we love it. So does Simon G Jewelry, the leader in engagement rings and bling. But announcing your love to the world can feel more overwhelming than the wedding. How do you make sure your announcement is equal parts sweet and creative?
Here are some ideas!
MAKE IT COLORFUL
The recently engaged blogger Color Me Courtney wanted an IG announcement that popped as much as her ring. (#SimonGSparkles.)A couple balloons, a bright pink monochrome, and the #onbendedknee Boyz to Men style swagger from her now fiancé, it was picture perfect. It didn’t hurt that she was rocking a gorgeous yellow diamond stunner.
IT SHOULD BE OUT OF THIS WORLD
This couple took their proposal to the moon and back. To recreate this amazing announcement, find yourself a creative partner and get to work. No one said marriage is easy, but this couple has the moon (and likely the world) on a string.
SMILE BIG.
OK. Maybe it’s not the most creative but you don’t have to have a paint war engagement photoshoot (yes, those exist) to show your true happiness. Sometimes the best thing you can do is smile big and flash a little ring.
And look, it’s not only about the proposal. You have to pop the question to your best gals as well, so why not make it ‘grammable with bridesmaid proposal cards from Etsy! We love the scratch off "Will you be my Bridesmaid" cards.
Have other creative ways to announce? Let us know below!
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This Entrepreneur Walked Away From a Scholarship at a Top University
Jasmine Star proves without guts, there is no glory
Written by: Karin Eldor
Whether Jasmine Star waxes poetic about entrepreneurship on a podcast, offers up social media engagement tips in her Facebook Live workshops or talks about her dog Polo in her Insta Stories, one thing is clear: she speaks as she is. The wedding photographer and social media strategist has blazed a trail of authenticity, guts and determination.
Jasmine’s star rose to fame as a wedding photographer when she was 25 years old. But here’s the clincher: when she first picked up her camera, she was actually a UCLA law student who didn’t know the first thing about photography. Luckily, she’s into shots in the dark.
Talk about a pivot: Star took a life-changing leap of faith, without even knowing if photography was her passion.
“That's the crazy thing,” she admits. “I didn't know if photography was my passion... I believed it was my passion, I hoped it was my passion, but I didn't know it was my passion. However, I had to at least try to figure it out. I owed it to myself.”
Star explains: “When I was 25 years old, doctors said my mom was dying of brain cancer. She was only 50. In that moment, I thought I was having a midlife crisis. I was literally half the age of my dying mother… I understood how fast life flies by and I promised to do everything I could to ensure I didn't look back on my life from a hospital bed and wonder, What if…”
So she walked away from her UCLA law school scholarship to follow her heart.
“I believe entrepreneurs owe themselves the chance to try to pursue their curiosity,” Star continues. “Curiosity is the thing that leads to passion, so I'm hell-bent on chasing my interests to determine if they'll morph into my wildest passions.”
“Entrepreneurs owe themselves the chance to try to pursue their curiosity.”
Tweet this.
That Christmas, her husband JD gifted her with a camera, and the rest is her-story. Jasmine pursued her (then TBD) passion and clicked her way to become one of the world’s premier wedding photographers. Four years in, she became one of the most sought-after photographers in Cali and was voted “Top 10 Wedding Photographers in the World” and “Top 10 Most Socially Influential Photographer.”
Her advice to others also considering a pivot? “Release yourself from people's expectations of your decisions. If you're looking for people to ‘get’ you or applaud your career-switching decisions, you may be searching for a long time. The vast majority of people are afraid of trying something new, but -- more so -- afraid of failing publicly. Most people don't want to be vulnerable and run the risk of closing the doors to a dream.”
Star adds, “Your responsibility isn't to handle the naysayers, nor is it to convince others that your decision is right. Your only job is to do what you've been created to do. You must stand in the rightness of your vision and let your success silence their doubts.” (And, mic drop.)
But everything has its purpose and Star’s law school experience has impacted the businesswoman she is today:
“I firmly believe every experience helps me as an entrepreneur. For example… Being a waitress taught me how to hustle and smile when dealing with rude customers. Working in retail taught me how to dress for the job you want, not the job you have (and properly fold a T-shirt). Volunteering for a janitorial union in L.A. taught me to treat everyone with utmost respect, even if they're cleaning toilets. Law school taught me to think in non-emotional terms and see every situation in black and white.”
Amazingly, Star evolved from wedding photog to branding & social media strategist, helping other entrepreneurs and creatives build a brand and pursue their vision, with her Path to Profitability business summits and workshops. Her evolution from creative to consultant is proof that some of the best career transitions happen organically.
"Stand in the rightness of your vision and let your success silence their doubts.”
Tweet this.
“It was natural. Totally. I built my brand from scratch and used social media to buttress it. Shortly thereafter I taught other photographers how to do it for their businesses and soon a variety of business owners asked for my help. I began consulting with creative entrepreneurs and saw their business explode with growth and entrepreneurial flair.”
Star explains: “The Path to Profitability was a labor of love and resulted with 12 hours of teaching content to entrepreneurs on how to build a brand and use social media to market it effectively. We hosted the workshop and recorded it to share it digitally with entrepreneurs. When I was creating it, I set aside two hours every day for four months to write and assemble the content.”
Star’s advice on how to maintain your voice as a brand?
“Write your copy like you're talking to a friend. There aren't rules for good writing. Actually, there are lots of rules. But ignore them. In today's digital world, the main goal is to get your point across as quickly as possible, in the strongest fashion… and write it the way you'd send an email to a good friend. Make jokes. Add smiley faces. Talk to, not down to, people. This makes a world of difference.”
Amazingly, with everything Star has on her plate, she still manages to answer all the emails to her website within 48 hours, all the while engaging with her over 160K Instagram followers.
And interaction and engagement seem to be what makes Jasmine Star the brand tick. Not only are her posts authentic, but she loves sharing nuggets of truth and wisdom for those who scroll her social media feeds. This is likely why her INSTA180 free 7-day challenge resonated with people.
“I love social media. Like, love it. I've been able to grow my social platforms with concentrated effort and dedication. Most of my marketing efforts are bolstered by social media, so I love teaching others how to use it. INSTA180 was created to teach entrepreneurs how to use Instagram for their businesses. I've learned being popular isn't as important as being profitable. Can I get an amen?!?”
"I've learned being popular isn't as important as being profitable."
Tweet this.
But it’s not all roses, right? So how does Star deal with the thorns and keep viewing the world with rose-colored filters?
“You are enough. You have enough. You need to give yourself grace, in spite of your mistakes. Abundance flows through you. You need to celebrate others' successes as happily as you do your own.” This is Star’s own mantra.
As for the entrepreneur' mom:
“Here's some good news: my mother miraculously recovered from brain cancer… and she's the first person I call when I'm ready to make yet another pivot.” Which, happens to be her advice for surviving the daily hustle: “When you're down, get up. Take breaks when you need them. Call your mom. Invest in good coffee.”
Amen number two.
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Karin Eldor is a coffee-addicted copywriter, with a long-time love for all things pop culture, fashion and tech. Ever since she got her first issues of YM (remember that one?) and Seventeen in the mail, she was hooked on the world of editorial content. After earning her Communications degree, she spent 6 years honing her craft as a Senior Editor for AskMen.com. More recently, Karin enjoyed gramming and strategizing as Social Media Manager at ALDO. Today, she is Chief Content Writer at 818 Agency and a social media consultant.
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3 Ways to Be Contagiously Social
Go forth and infect the masses.
Strong women can tell stories that simultaneously rock viral reach and niche connection, and guess what? You’re part of this squad, and we’ve got a name: contagiously social. When we’re contagiously social, it’s not just our stories that ignite, but also the style in which we share them. Best of all, this fierce fusion is surprisingly simple. Just do three things:
Abandon. Obsess. Infect.
1. Abandon labels (hashtags included)
You know the nuances of your industry, platforms, and followers, so trust that your social strategy will work like muscle memory when you let go of labels. Share in the moment. This strategy is so real, it might be surprised to hear itself called that.
Teen Vogue Digital Entertainment Editor Ella Cerón rocks this. She’s a social media savant (Insta, Twitter, Facebook, and beyond), but people know her first and foremost as a funny, know-all fashionista who’s not afraid to get real when breaking news breaks hearts. It’s seamless yet unobvious content strategy focused on real-time stories, personality (on and beyond brand), and community (from close friends to influencers...and by that, I mean Kim Kardashian).
What inspires or surprises you right now? Tell that story, even if it’s not ready-made with a hashtag. There’s both freedom and followers to be found in this relatable-yet-reckless abandon.
2. Obsess over what you love
Reclaim obsession. It’s now a powerful, positive word that screams, “I’m passionate and my own person!” Be the #bosslady of can’t get enough. Champion what you love and pay no heed to “trending.” Start the social convo. Chances are, other women and brands obsess over cheap lipstick, hot sauce, and puns, too. (No? Just me?) Create a project, campaign, or partnership together! When you celebrate shared passion, the right people follow suit, and bam—obsession transforms into collaboration.
Jazmine Hughes and Jessica Kane rock this. Hughes, associate editor at The New York Times Magazine, wrote a brilliant Cosmopolitan story for which she dressed as Empire’s Cookie to explore a question on many women’s minds: Do I deserve this job? (Spoiler alert: Yes, you do.) Kane, director of millennial outreach at the Huffington Post, loves donuts. From HuffPost’s first-ever donut gif to deliciously-hyperlinked out-of-office emails, she bakes this love into her personal and professional brand like a boss.
Share what you love. Feelings and followers will be mutual. It’s the best answer to Mariah Carey’s enduring question, “Why you so obsessed with me?”
3. Infect with unique style
How is a huge part of storytelling. Take Tasty, for example. All it took was some sharp overhead camera footage in the kitchen, and now our Facebook feeds (pun intended!) are filled with BuzzFeed’s mac and cheese miracles. It’s all about style, so once you have your story, shake up how you share it. This could be visual or verbal, but it’s gotta be vibrant.
Fashion designer Misha Nonoo rocks this. Nonoo launched New York Fashion Week’s first-ever #instashow with her SS16 collection. Nonoo brought it to the hashtagged height of #NYFW with the help of 30 #bosslady influencers like Lena Dunham (hey, 2.4 million+ followers, nice to meet you). Media loved it, and it caught on: Nonoo just wrapped up her fall 2016 instashow in partnership with rewardStyle, this time using her personal Instagram and shoppable links with LiketoKnow.it. Now you see this content—monetized-yet-meaningful, Insta over in-person—and this style—larger images made from the ‘gram grid—from the best brands, corporate accounts, and small creative projects.
Stories and style infect our industry, and soon, we see their symptoms everywhere. We spread a brilliant bug. And don’t worry—“new” doesn’t have to mean “never before.” It’s all about finding fresh ways to fuse your what with your how.
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You’ve got something compelling and contagious to share. Go forth and abandon, obsess, and infect. I can’t wait to catch this wildfire.
Aileen McGraw is a writer on on a mission to redefine sartorial by fusing all things social, art, and editorial. Her work intertwines stories and strategy to amplify the bold and the not-yet-told. She’s been published in the Huffington Post, majestic disorder, and Chickpea Magazine, among others, and currently rocks content strategy at Microsoft. She lives by the words, "There's no such thing as too spicy." Find Aileen’s portfolio here.